bottlecaplogs | AUGUST 2025 EVENT LOG

⋆✩ THE FIRST TRUE EXPEDITION ✩⋆

The Guildleader’s announcement comes off the excitement of yet another round of mysterious new arrivals floundering their way into society. It comes not long after a fresh round of beach parties and campfires, announced simply by notices posted to the Quest Board concerning a vital announcement to be made at the Archive’s steps. Within the first week of the month, that announcement has been made.

It’s time to expand their borders. It’s time to break through the unknown.

It’s time, the Guilds agree, for an Expedition.

i. LET THE EXPEDITION BEGIN

PACK YOUR BAGS

Preparing for the Expedition is no simple task. After the announcement has been made, all three Guilds prepare personal sign-ups for the matter, extending invitations to Pokemon they feel will do particularly well. An expedition, each Leader explains, is not at all the same as any typical quest. It is an effort comparable to the very exodus that formed what Bottlecap Bay is today. It’s a collective of Pokemon all headed for one singular goal, supporting each other in the effort.

Pokemon are encouraged to invest in sacks and satchels in some cases, while others are simply handed worn packs for their own use. Lists of necessary supplies are passed around, ranging from simple foods like apples and chestnuts all the way to rare and valuable goods that could make or break any team lost in the woods. Seeds that explode when chewed upon, or even revive a Pokemon from unconsciousness are carefully divided among Expeditioners, and as the day fast approaches the nervousness becomes a tangible thing upon the air. Heavy, like a storm. Static, akin to electricity from a yet unseen lightning bolt.

Yet skies are clear - and they remain clear when the day comes for the trek as well.

WE’RE TAKING A ROAD TRIP⟡ The Expedition begins ICly on the 1st of August - Players are free to handwave characters seeing notices leading up to this day beginning from the 25th of July.

⟡ When it comes to being allowed on the Expedition, even new Pokemon are invited to join! The Guild Leaders are anticipating they’ll have hidden strengths and unusual insights in dealing with the unexpected, compared to native Pokemon - what with the experiences they have coming from very different worlds.

⟡ All Pokemon on the Expedition will at minimum be equipped with some form of sack for personal belongings. While larger Pokemon will also be tasked with carrying extra loads intended for tents and shelters, smaller ones will be asked to tow rations (or other supplies that are easily split) for their immediate party.

⟡ Many stores in the town are eager to do their part to support Expeditioners! While this doesn’t mean any special discounts, it does mean that items and goods they exchange might be a little more personalized. It seems a Pokemon’s favorite snack just happens to have been set aside, while the last satchel available is in their favorite color. How fortuitous!

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

While all three are in agreement, it is only one Guild Leader who spearheads the charge. The Oran Berries of the Spire are left with a trusted deputy to handle any immediate matters as the Expedition Team sets off for the woods in early August, and where most teams are a mere two to four Pokemon strong it isn’t inaccurate to compare this one to an army. As a mass, these Pokemon move forward with their packs filled with supplies. Stone, lumber, and straw for larger sorts. Food and tools for others. And still more with nothing but the most vital necessities, first aid, and so on.

The three sections of forest that are known to Bottlecap Bay all border the sandy shore of the Bay’s lower crescent, with the ‘North’ in particular creeping along the Canopy. Through probing of the Forest’s boundaries and environs, thanks in large part to all of the explorations and quests of the past months, the Guilds have determined that the Forest eventually starts funneling together, the far end of each section growing narrower and narrower as the entire Forest is compressed between impassable terrain. This also means that whatever’s at the other end, any entrance to the Forest should exit in roughly the same place.

The Expedition intends to travel just through the North section - at this point they’ve had plenty of experience dealing with the primary hazard of spores! However, as the team carries on, they start to encounter discordant patches resembling the Middle and South in alternating moments of time. Some begin to voice concerns and questions - the Forest was never so strange before, even when the fog was at its thickest. Is this trip really worth it? How are they possibly going to make it through to the other side? The Forest seemed unending even when they were starting to get used to the conditions in each section individually!

As worries mount, Mightyena calls out encouragement, and hopeful whispers spread from the front of the Expedition. One of the Pokemon near Mightyena has a hunch, and says so in a shy voice. A feeling that just ahead, there might be something that isn’t just woods. Thanks to everyone’s efforts in recruitment, many wild Pokemon have agreed to assist over the last number of days - and the ones from the furthest corners of the Forest concur. The end is near, and this has been the forest’s final test. They just have to push on.

They can do that much, right?

ARE WE THERE YET?⟡ While the threat levels over all within the forest have dropped down somewhat, navigation during the Expedition becomes even harder than it was before. The trip at minimum takes a full day - but notably, Pokemon who stray from the group quickly find themselves back in the pack, or back in Bottlecap depending on their intentions.

⟡ The Expedition only stops a few times during this trip, each time for a shared meal. There is always at least one Pokemon with their eyes directly ahead so that they don’t lose the path, and others in the group make certain to keep their fellows in sight at all times.

⟡ While they don’t ultimately set up tents in the woods, it’s clear from speaking with Mightyena that it was considered a possibility; in fact, finding a place for the Outpost within just a single day should have been impossible! She seems certain that at least one Pokemon move or ability was involved in this.

ii. BOTTLECAP OUTPOST, NAME TBD

CAMPING WITH EXTRA STEPS

After little more than a day of trekking, the journey comes to an end. The Expedition’s goal was to find a place suitable enough to create another settlement. To find a place beyond the woods that could be considered safe. A place that could eventually become another home.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Pokemon of the forest, they have managed just that.

The valley is a beautiful carpet of swaying grass, gently sloping hills, and tiny babbling brooks. Wildflowers sprout in colorful clumps or large swathes, and the air smells sweet and fresh; a breeze ruffles gently through Pokemon fur and feathers, chasing clouds through the sky. Scattered rocks and boulders make for perfect spots to lie down and sunbathe. One larger stream meanders through the center, its water clear enough to see straight through to the rocky bottom - at least except for the spots where rocks jut out above the surface, generating sprays of drops and foam. It's kind of hard to believe that this was just beyond the fog and gnarled undergrowth of the forest!

At the other end of the valley, the hills begin to grow steeper, and trees fill in again - in fact, it almost looks denser than the forest on the way back to the Bay, if that's even possible. Over near that end Mightyena is organizing expeditions, marking off three general directions to start exploring. It might be tempting to sneak out for a peek ahead of time, but Mightyena insists it's not safe to go solo and without supplies.

Off in the distance, beyond the dense woods, the hills stretch into an extensive mountain range. Dark clouds hang above many of them, caught on the peaks.

Closer to the center of the valley, on one side of the stream where the ground is flattest, the Outpost's boundaries are being marked out. It's time to start building!

NO REALLY DON’T GO IN THERE⟡ Pokemon who haven’t been approved for Exploration Quests will be swiftly caught and carried back to the Outpost base. Done enough times, and they may even be sent back to Bottlecap Bay!

⟡ Curiously, Pokemon who return from their expeditions will note that even if they encounter mountains, none of the visible mountains match what they saw - no matter what direction teams explore in, the regions and sights are entirely incongruous with what can be seen from the valley.

⟡ Those remaining at the Outpost will have plenty of work to do. Regular travel routes must be established, as well as the placement of temporary shelters. Pokemon will be spending many days out here, which means lots of hunting and gathering work to be done as well. Players are invited to come up with their own unique tasks; a village has many requirements.

THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT

So here’s the bad news: even with the wide number and variety of Pokemon present, and all the strange abilities and skills at everyone’s disposal, building an Outpost… just isn’t something that happens in a day. Everyone’s going to be here for a while! And there’s simply too much work for anyone to get away with slacking.

Any Expedition members who aren’t being sent out on an official exploration are going to have their paws, wings, and other assorted limbs full of construction tasks. Even those sent out on explorations will be expected to join in as soon as they’re back - assuming they’ve avoided injury, of course. And whenever Pokemon collapse for a well-earned rest… it’s going to have to be under tarps and temporary shelters. (At least it’s probably not much worse than what everyone’s already used to, for everyone but the Lum Berries?)

Still, the relief of making it through the Forest and the loveliness of the environs has the mood of the Expedition high! The overall feeling is like that of a barn raising, with cheers ringing out whenever a new building is framed, and again whenever it’s officially designated complete. Some massive fire pits are very nearly the first thing to get put together, and every sundown there’s bonfires for the Expedition members to congregate around and relax with their supper.

It won’t be long before the Outpost is complete, and this will all be worth it!

NEW PLACES⟡ While the core of the Outpost won’t be finished until the final week of the month, other unique matters will slowly make themselves known as the 24th of August approaches. In particular, a uniquely shaped building with its own Questboard will finish its construction alongside a storehouse, a clinic, and a dwelling house.

⟡ The latter three buildings are quite basic; the Storehouse is used to maintain and preserve stock of all manner of necessary materials including food, and even has the beginnings of facilities meant to process these. There is talk of possibly creating a water wheel to help with this. The Clinic in turn is a far smaller version of its Bottlecap counterpart, meant for emergency treatment of Pokemon who cannot be brought directly to town.

⟡ By August 24th, Pokemon will be able to experience the finished Dwelling house on their own. While it’s constructed in the style of many of Bottlecap Bay’s buildings, it seems to follow the spirit of the Oran and Cheri guild’s dormitory systems. Pokemon share rooms with four simple beds, and the entire building makes use of a communal stove.

⟡ The final building is the most important; it’s a Post Office. The Quest Board outside of it is meant to host requests relevant to the regions too distant from Bottlecap to reasonably respond to, but for now something else is posted there. ICly posted on August 24th, these notices call for a vote on names for the Outpost and neighboring regions. Further details, and an IC Suggestion Poll, can be found Here.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ CWS: Typical Pokemon violence - otherwise this is a fairly tame event!

⟡ As promised on the monthly plotting post, we are happy to announce that Activity Rewards are now available! You can find more information here.

⟡ While all Heavy Quests will ICly have completed by August 24th, sign-ups for these quests will remain open all month.

⟡ For those who participated in Heavy Quests this month, don't forget to submit your quest completion forms before the 30th!

⟡ Have any questions related to the event? Ask them here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!

FULL NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, well. It concerns me. I’m not going to take the blame when we still haven’t built a damn thing.

[ He scowls down at the nail currently in-hand, too focused to even give Anasui a glance. Measure twice, cut once. Bigby supposes that’s what the bird is all worked up over. It’s not his style, but there really isn’t room to talk when he’s the one known for blowing down houses anyway.

With a sigh, he tosses the nail into its designated pile, moving over to the hammer he also dropped during all of that. He extends it out toward Anasui. ]

Here. Save your break the trouble of drilling them in.

Well then, we better build something quickly so you can take the blame, big guy.

[It's... not a teasing tone but Anasui does say it more casually than some of the things he said before. Anasui mutters a small thanks and then takes the hammer into his mouth. He can't say much more since he needs to have his mouth occupied, so he gets to work, taking one of the now-sorted nails and then hammering it in.

And Anasui is not slow with his construction. Though Anasui doesn't have his Stand anymore, Anasui is still good at putting things together and construction is much easier than surgery. He'll have the skeleton of a drawer put together in no time at all.]

Great. Just what I want to hear.

[ Like Anasui, his snark isn't entirely absent, but it's far less than it was before. Hammer now fully with the Espathra, Bigby goes back to sorting, only pausing to chew on a seed to stay focused.

At some point, he glances over to his partner, his curiosity finally enough for him to silently watch as Anasui quickly makes work of whatever he's building. Bigby won't bother asking, but it's obvious he's admiring just how easily the other is putting it together.

A thought occurs before he scampers off without so much of a word, only to come back with a few larger Pokémon towing some extra materials on his behalf. How he managed to get their help is beyond him, but it seems everyone is in the spirit of collaboration anyway. ]

Yeah, here's fine. That should save us the trouble with how fast he's working already.

[Anasui doesn't notice Bigby run off, nor does he care, as he moves and fixes things. The skeleton of the drawer becomes a drawer itself, with sturdy wood and solid handles, picked from the best they have. Anasui doesn't look like he's having fun but he is completely in his element, focused and moving expertly, and he doesn't at all notice newcomers even though he instinctively takes some of the materials that they provide him. He'll work until the drawer is done, and when it is it's flawless and functional, he'll look up and look at the new materials like he hasn't seen them before. And then Bigby.]

What else needs to be done? You tell me, I'll build it. [... He seems happy, in some odd way.]

[ When the other Pokémon finally take their leave, Bigby goes back to watching the Espathra complete that drawer with perfect execution. If Anasui was hoping to find a way to shut him up for once, this is it, though it's still not enough to stop him from uttering holy shit under his breath at the end result.

When Anasui finally turns his attention back to him, he immediately stiffens, ready to go back on the defensive. Instead, his ears go flat, eyes widening like a deer caught in headlights. ]

Me? I don't, uh... [ That question completely takes him off guard in more ways than one. Unlike Anasui, he's entirely not in his element when it comes to deciding on furniture. ] A table and some chairs, maybe? Or... a desk?

[ And that is the extent of his immediate frame of reference based on what he has back home. Do people really need more than that? ]

[It helped that Bigby somewhat sorted out the piles so Anasui doesn't get distracted by organising. Anasui really could only do this because he was focused on his task.

The Espathra raises an eyebrow, completely having missed Bigby's reaction and not understanding why he's reacting the way he is. He tilts his head and sighs.]

You have no imagination. But... I can't disagree. We do need those things. [And like that, Anasui will look at the assorted materials again for what he wants. He starts measuring out using his feet the length of a table but pauses when he thinks of the height. There are Pokemon who are large like Abomasnow and himself but then there are small Pokemon like Bigby and Emporio. Maybe he needs to make two sets?]

What do you do if children come over to your house? [Anasui, that's not how you ask the above question.]

[ Immediately Bigby has the urge to retort back with a fuck you, but somehow he manages to hold it in. Instead of saying anything, he simply puffs out his cheeks, foot thumping with rabbit-like irritation. It's not like he can disagree, either. He's a sheriff, not a home designer. It's not his job to have an imagination. ]

... Anasui.

[ Again, his frustration seems to melt in place of bewilderment. As if any kid would visit the Big Bad Wolf's shit hole of an apartment, much less get an invitation. TJ could barely deal with talking to him in the business office as it is.

Also, just generally, what. ]

What kids? What in the fuck are you talking about?

[Does... Does Anasui even know Bigby is the Big Bad Wolf? Honestly, Anasui isn't one for small talk so they may just... not know about each other.

Anasui clicks his tongue, as if annoyed that Bigby can't understand something so obvious, but repeats himself.]

You're small. You probably won't be able to use the furniture if it's too big. Would it be better to make a small set of furniture for anyone who decides to stay here? Or would it be better to make aids, like booster seats?

[ Bigby's still keeping that to himself — not that he's ever chatty with Anasui during his clinic visits, anyway — but still. He hardly thinks he gives off kid-friendly vibes in general.

(Woe to Littleby whenever that secret eventually gets out, though.)

He rolls his eyes at the tongue clicks. And being called small. ]

Like that makes sense. I'm not child-sized back home. [ He so wants to be angrier, but he's been here just long enough to get used to the furniture situation. His nose scrunches at his own answer. ] ... Maybe the booster seats for now. We can build smaller sets in the future once we get a better sense on who's staying out here regularly. [ Very upsetting to think he's going to be using booster seats. ]

[Well, he can't be worse than Anasui. He's been in jail for most of his adult life.

Anasui shrugs but says nothing, taking Bigby's suggestion into consideration. After a long moment, the bird nods.]

That makes sense. I'll start working on it now.

I can get more materials. Just tell me what you need.

[ Against all odds, the buddy system works just intended. Bigby didn't expect this to end in anything but more fighting, so it's nice, for things to go right for once. He'll see how long this truce lasts.

Either way, at least he's getting a +1 to his life skills by learning more about furniture building. ]

AUGUST 2025 EVENT LOG

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this has gone down a path where i didnt expect but awwwwww....

holding my heart at happy anasui......maybe two jerks CAN be friends

ikr!! But friends... (said cautiously bc they still will go at each other at a moments notice) XD

their friendship comes with the longest terms of service agreement that'd put disney to shame

As it should :)

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shall we start wrapping up?

let's wrap!